Humidifier



W. BOCK HUMIDIFIER Aug. 17, 1937.

Filed April 18, 1931 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 17, 1937 I UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE Application April 18, 1931, Serial No. 531,216 In Germany December 16, 1930 8 Claims.

To the drawing:

Figure 1 is a horizontal cross section of the hygroscopic testbody and its support.

Figure 2 is partially a side elevation and partially a vertical cross section of the water supply valve.

Figure 3 is partially a side view and partially a vertical cross section of the humidifier.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the air and steam valve with certain parts in section.

Figure 5 is a side elevation with the heating elements in cross section.

Figure 6 is partially a side view of certain parts of the container, and the heating coils. The humidifier or vaporizer consists of contamer 1 adapted to be filled with water from a water system or a hot Water radiator. (Not shown.) The entrance of the water is provided by means of a valve 28, slidably arranged in a valve guide Zl. The valve 28, which preferably will be used as a so-called needle valve, is controlled by the rod 3, fastened to the float valve 3. The rod 4 is fulcrumed by means of pin El, which is located in a shoulder of the container or vessel 5. The valve guide 26 is connected with the water supply pipe 29 and has a valve seat 21, 1 against which the valve 2% will be pressed by float 3 to-close the Water entrance, when a predetermined amount of water has entered the container.

The vertical motion of the float 3 will be limited by a stop 5, which can be arranged adjustable. The container l is provided with a support bracket 30. This bracket holds the container in an upright position. It is preferably fastened to the wall but may be fastened to the radiator or close to it, if the water is received by the latter. A cover 2 is connected by means of a support rod 6 with the container I and provided with suitable holes 62 for releasing the steam generated in the container. On the cover 2 is provided a support holder 20 fastened with its base to the cover 2. The holder 20 supports a hygroscopic testbody 2|, preferably wood or leather. This so-called hygrostat can be arranged either on the cover 2 or under the container i.

If the container l and the cover 2 are tightly connected in such a way that no steam can escape, the vessel may be used as a heating chamher for heating the surrounding air. To release the undesirable air from such a heating body,

an air vent valve is provided and suitably fas- 1 tened with its casing IS, on the cover 2. By means of the hole 37, the steam developed in the 5 vessel can enter into the casing l5. On the upper part of the casing l 5, is provided a valve stem guide 4i), screwed in the casing 15, or suitably fastened otherwise. This valve stem guide 59 is used as a guide for the valve 38. The latter consists of an upper stem it, a valve disc and a lower stem which is fastened to a hollow sheetmetal float This float is charged with a small quantity of highly volatile fluid such as ether, which readily gasifies and expands under the action of heat. In the lower end of the float is provided a diaphragm which will flex outward, when suilicient pressure is developed in the float. In the place or" this float, there could be used a solid body of thermosensitive material like rubber. 15 The upper part 88 of the valve is in touch with the right end ll of the lever H3. The latter is fulcrum-ed by means of a pin i9, which is inserted in the sup-port holder 2&3. The left end of the lever I8 has an upright finger 22, which is fastened to the lower end of the hygroscopic testbody 2!. The upper part of the holder 20 is provided with a shoulder 25. An adjusting screw 2 5 is inserted in a screw-threaded hole of the shoulder 25. The lower part of the adjusting screw 24 is threaded in the upper part of the testbody 2!. The adjusting screw can be provided with a graduation for direct adjustment of the percentage of relative humidity desirable in the atmospheric air. As shown, the testbody 2| is protected from heat radiation by a protection shield connected with the support 28 (see Fig. 1). To improve the insulation qualities the protection shield may be provided with a layer of heat insulating material 32 like asbestos.

Independent of the air vent valve 38, there is employed a second valve 38 (see Fig. 4). Said valve 39 consists of an upper stem 43 with a shoulder, a lower stem and a valve disc. It is pressed by the spring #32 with its valve disc against the valve seat on the lower side of valve stem guide ll. The latter is screwed or otherwise fastened, in the casing l5 of the air valve. In the case, that the air valve 38 should work independent of the hygrostat, the regulating lever l8 will be so arranged that it touches with its right end I1, the upper part of the valve 39, and controls the steam discharged in dependency of the contraction and expansion of the hygroscopic test body 2!, without influencing the function 50 of the air vent valve 33. The stems of both valves 43 and [G are preferably provided with longitudinal recesses (not shown) to facilitate the escape of the air and the steam. To vaporize the liquid in the container, a pair of plate electrodes 4.5 electrodes 56 and 51.

I2 and I3 are used. These plates are fastened to a holding rod, preferably made from an insulating material like glass. The holding rod is connected with a regulating arm 33, which is 5 fulcrumed by means of pin 9. The latter is fastened in the support bracket I. This support bracket is located on the bottom of the inside surface of the container I. Between a lower shoulder of the support bracket I and the regulating arm 33, is provided a body of thermo-sensitive material.8, preferably of suitable metal alloy. With its pointed ends II] and II, it is held in such a position to move the regulation arm and the plate electrodes I2 and I3 in dependency of the temperature desired in the vessel. The regulation may be controlled either by the temperature of the water, the steam, or both. The regulation mechanism for the steam temperature may be replaced by a suitable regulation mechanism for the steam pressure as the relationship between temperature and pressure of steam in a closed vessel always are constant. The plate electrodes are connected by flexible wires with the contact points I4 fastened on the outside surface of the vessel I, from where they easily can be connected with asuitable electric current system.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification for humidifying purposes. A hollow float member 99 is provided with a support bracket 47. Said support bracket has a shoulder with a screw threaded hole, in which is arranged the adjusting screw 44. A lever 49 is fulcrumed on a pivot 48, which is inserted in the lower part of the support bracket. The lower end 53 of the adjusting screw 44, is threaded in the upper part of an hygroscopic testbody 45, preferably made from wood. The lower part of the testbody is suitably fastened to an upright finger 45 of the lever 49. On the other side of this lever 49 a rod 55 is connected 40 to this lever by means of a pin 54. The rod 55 is carrying two plate electrodes 56 and 51, suitably insulated by insulation washers 58. The connection of the rod 55 with lever 49, is flexible to assure an always horizontal position of the plate The latter are connected with the contact points 59 and SI which are fastened on the lever 49. The contact points aforesaidv are connected with the contact points 52 and 53, to which a suitable source of electric energy 150 is led. The electrodes arranged on the floating body maintain an unchangeable position to the water level, which only is varied by the regulation of the hygrostat. V

The operation of the invention is as follows: 55 Water is admitted in the container I by the pipe 29, either from a water heated radiator or another suitable source. The float 3 regulates the entranceof a predetermined amount of water and shuts the valve 28, when a certain water level 0 is obtained. The plate electrodes I2, I3 which are connected with a source of electric energy, are held by the thermostat 8 in such a position that the upper electrode I2 touches the water and closes the electric circuit. This results in the evaporation of the liquid. As the thermostat 8 is adjusted for a certain temperature, which may be obtained by an adjusting screw (not shown) it will expand and lift up the heating elements I2, I3. The electric current will become interrupted and only will be closed again When the temperature of the steam or the water falls under the predetermined degrees. In case the container is tightly closedby the cover 2, the evaporation will cause a certain pressure in the vessel and the thermostat 8 may be replaced by a pressure indicating device which immerses the electrodes I2, I3 in the liquid in dependency of the desired pressure, as the pressure of the steam always is a function of its temperature.

It is obvious that this heated vessel can be used 5 as a steam heater for any kind of heating purposes. To control the temperature of this heating vessel in dependency of the surrounding air, the thermostat can be located outside of the vessel at a convenient place in the room and to con- 1 trol the immersing of the electrodes in the vessel by a suitable mechanism operated by relay or other transmission agencies. (Not shown.) To prevent any short circuit which may occur, if the electric current is closed by the water between 5 the electrodes I2 and I3, the inside of the vessel containing the liquid is covered with a suitable insulation (not shown).

During the operation of the vessel as a radiator, it is well known that under certain conditions 20 air is trapped in the vessel and must be drained therefrom. Therefore, I provide on the top of the vessel an air vent valve of common design. In Fig. 4 is shown a float valve I5 with a dia- V phragm 35, in the bottom. In cold conditions 25 this float valve is open and allows undesired air to escape. As soon as steam develops, the diaphragm will flex outwards and press the valve 38 against the valve seat of the guide 49. This interrupts the release of steam. As it is well known 3O that the atmospheric air in rooms heated by steam radiators becomes very dry and destructive for human health, it is apparent that a certain amount of moisture in the atmospheric air is ad- 7 visable. For this reason, the hygrostat 2i, which "35 can be adjusted by adjusting screw 24 for any amount of humidity desired in the room, opens the air vent valve if the air dries out, by means of the regulating lever I8. As soon as the pressure applied to the upper stem I9 of the valve 38 by 40 lever I8 is larger than the pressure of the gaseous medium in the heated float 34,the diaphragm will be bent inwards and open the valve. Steam escapes and increases the moisture of the air to the u desirable degree. When suflicient humidity is "4'5 reached, the hygrostat 2| expands releasing the pressure applied to the diaphragm 35 of the float 34 and the air valve closes again.

In the case that the float 34 is replaced by a solid body of the thermo-sensitive material, a suitable "50 spring member placed between the lower part of the thermo-sensitive body and the casing will be used with advantage. The spring member has to be so adjusted that the valve is open before steam escapes. After discharge of steam the thermo-' 55 sensitive body expands and closes valve 38.

It is often desirable not to disturb the air releasing function of the vent valve. Therefore, I provide a second valve 39 on the casing of the vent valve. The regulation lever I8 will be connectedIiO in this case with the upper stem 43 of valve 39 and regulate the release of steam in dependency of the action of the hygrostat.

As the hygrostatic testbody 2i is unfavorably a, influenced by heat radiation, there is provided a"55 protection shield, preferably connected with the support 29 and advantageously used in the case that the vessel is fastened to another hot water radiator. This shield can be designed in any shape, which serves as a protection for the hy- 7 0 grostat against heat radiation. It is understood that the protection 32 can be made of any kind of insulating material. In the case that the container is used only as; humidifying device, the plate electrodes I2 and75 i3 are preferably fastened to regulating arm [8 of the hygrostat 2|. The hygrostat immerses the electrodes through a suitable opening in the cover 2 in dependency of the humidity of the surrounding air. It is obvious that the evaporation of the liquid and the consumption of electric current is entirely controlled by the hygrostat, as the electric current is interrupted as soon as the hygrostat lifts the upper electrode l2 out of the water. The electrodes which may be of any suitable shape or material can be used too as a control agency for an electric heating coil located in thermal contact under the container (not shown). This provides a current interruption without any spark development, if the contact between the water level and the electrodes is interrupted. The electrodes determined only for current-control purposes are provided with a second electric connection (not shown) which should be in communication with said electric heating coil.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification of the humidifying device. The hygrostat controlling two plate electrodes 56, 51 is located on a floating vessel 60. This arrangement has the advantage that the control of the heating electrodes does not depend on a predetermined Water level, which is maintained in Fig. 3; by the float valve 3. It is apparent that the device shown in Fig. 3 can be used in the container I without the cover 2.

Although I have shown certain features of the invention for the purpose of illustration, it will be obvious that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not wish to be restricted to the specification embodiments shown and described except as limited thereto by the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

l. A humidifier comprising in combination a radiator, an air vent valve adapted to vent the air from said radiator, a second valve associated with a casing and with said radiator for discharging steam, a hygrostat, said hygrostat controlling said second valve in dependency of the humidity of the atmospheric air.

2. A humidifier comprising a casing having an air vent valve and an entrance for steam therein, a float charged with a heat expansive fluid adapted to expand said float and disposed in said casing to cause closing of said vent, when said float expands under the influence of the heat, and a hygrostat, arranged outside of said casing, adapted to control said float in such a way that steam will be released through the air vent dependent upon the humidity of the atmospheric air.

3. In a vaporizer a float to be exposed to a liquid, a hygrostat and electrodes placed on said float, said electrodes being immersed by said hygrostat in the liquid, said liquid being evaporated by said electrodes in dependency of the humidity of the atmospheric air, said float maintaining an unchangeable position between the water level and the electrodes, which only is varied by the regulation of the hygrostat.

4. In a container for receiving a quantity of liquid, an entrance for said liquid to said container, a float arranged inside of said container, electrodes connected with said float, an electric circuit for said electrodes, electric means in said circuit, said electric means being arranged outside of said container.

5. In a container for receiving a quantity of liquid, an entrance for said liquid to said container, a float arranged inside of said container, electrodes connected with said float, an electric circuit for said electrodes, electric means in said circuit, said electric means consisting of a resistance element for generating heat.

6. A humidifier comprising in combination a steam radiator, an air vent valve adapted to vent the air from said radiator, a steam valve for discharging steam from said radiator and controlling means, said means controlling said steam valve in dependency of the humidity of the air.

7. A humidifier comprising a casing connected with a steam radiator, said casing being provided with an air vent valve, adapted to vent the air from said radiator, a steam valve connected with said radiator to release steam therefrom and controlling means, said means consisting of a hygrostat controlling said steam valve in dependency of the humidity of the air.

8. In a container for receiving a quantity of liquid, an entrance for said liquid to said container, a float, electrodes connected with said float adapted to be exposed to said liquid, an electric circuit for said electrodes, electric means in said circuit, said means consisting of an electric coil located outsde of said container.

WILHELM BOCK. 

